Spinning top



Oct. 12, 1926. v 1,603,034

J. J. ESPER SPINNING TOP F'fl d March 18, 1926 gawm ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

JOHN J. ESPER, OF DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.

SPINNING Tor.

I Application filed March 18, 1926. Serial No. 95,739.

My invent-ion relates to spinning tops shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly described in the following specification and'claims.

' This invention is designed as an improvement onthe spinning top shown and described in my Patent #1559232 dated October 27th, 1925, and its primary object is to simplify the construction and operation of the earlier device and to reduce the manufacturing cost.

One feature of the present invention consists in providing a wire spring coiled upon its spindle and connected at the lower end with a flange integral therewith :-the upper end of the spring having a hook-shaped formation adapted to enter an aperture in the body of the top :-the construction being such that the upper end of the spring may be automatically released from clutched connection with the body portion synchronously with the release of the ratchet from the dog controlling the latter to spin the top,that the driving spring maynot be broken in case the operator should continue gripping the spindle against the expanding action of the driving spring.

' A further object is to simplify my former invention by eliminating the spring and other working parts contained within the knob at the upper end of the spindle,-all working parts being now entirely housed within the body of the top.

' With theforegoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention further resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes may be made in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

" In the drawings accompanying this specification:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the top. showing a pOrtion of its tubular spindle broken away and a dog engaging a ratchet member carried by the spindle when winding the driving spring. Figure 2 isa similar cross sectional view showing the spindle pushed downwardly to the limit of its movement whereby the ratchet mechanism is released,-as when starting the top.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on or about line 3-3 of the top, showing an opening in apartition I of the top body to receive the upper hooked end of the driving spring, and in dotted lines the hooked end of the spring released from engagement with the partition wall.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the partition wallshowing the openings in the plate with which the hooked end of the driving spring may engage, also the peripheral notches through which lugs struck up from the body of the top enter to secure the partition in'place and. to prevent its rotation with reference to the wall of the top.

Referringnow to theletters of reference placed upon the drawings:

A and A denote the body of the top, preferably formed of sheet metal connected together by an overlapping joint A B indicates a pivot pin extending through the body of the top to receive the end of a tubular rotatable and longitudinally movable spindle C projecting upwardly through the body of the top,provided with a flange a, forming a bearing for the spindle.

D is a knob formed of two telescoping parts fitted to the projecting end of the spindle for convenience in manually rotating the latter. I r I E denotes a spirally coiled spring preferably formed of wire sleeved upon the spindle, its lower end being bent to enter an aperture ina flange C at the lower end. of the spindle. If desired however, the spring may be engaged directly to the spindle.

F is a partition wall provided with a central aperture for the passage of the spindle, with its perimeter notched at f to receive a plurality of inwardly bent lugs a struck from the body of the top.

The upper end. of the driving spring is provided with a hook-shaped end E adapted to enter covered apertures f f provided in the partition wall F, the construction being such. however, that the hook will readily 'freeritself from the aperture when the top is spinning and as readily enter the openings in the partitionwhen it is desired to manually wind the top.

In the chamber formed between the partition wall and the body of the top, is a ratchet wheel G preferably integral with the spindle, adapted to be engaged by a dog H under the urge of a spring I, one end of which bears on the dog,-the other end being secured to the partition wall.

The central opening through the partition is of suflicient size to permit the passage of the ratchet wheel when the spindle is shifted to release the ratchet from the.

ing the spindle outwardly until the ratchet wheel G is brought into engagement with the spring actuated dog H, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The operator may then wind up the spring. Upon the completion of the winding operation the operator, while still grasping the knob, forces the pointed end of the pivot pin upon the [loor or other surface upon which the top to be spun. Thisaction causes the spindle to move downwardly releasing the ratchet wheel G from engagement with the dog H, whereupon the driving spring will cause the top to rotate ;-the upper hooked end of the spring releasing itself from engage ment with the partition wall, thereby relieving the spring of any tendency to snap resulting from the operator holding the knob while the top is turning. Tie spring eX- pands energy in rotating the top while the spindle is being held by the hand of the operator and the releasing, of the spring from the body of the top prevents the rotation of the top from unwinding the spring beyond its normal unwound condition.

Having thus described my invention what claim is:

1. In a spinning top; a chambered body; a pivot pin projecting through the lower wall of the top; a longitudinally movable rotatable spindle projecting through the upper wall of the top a knob fitted t0 the outer end ofthe spindle; a ratchet carried by the spindle; a dog adapted to engage the ratchet; and a coileddriving spring sleeved upon the spindle and fixedly secured to the latter at one end, the opposite end of the spring being adapted for automatic engagement or disengagement with co-ordinating means provided in the wall of the top, whereby the spring may be held when manuallywound, and upon shifting the spindle longitudinally it may be automatically released concomitantly with the spinning of the top by the spring. i i

2. In a spinning top; a chambered body; a pivot pin projecting through the lower wall of the top with a short upstanding stub portion extendinginto the chambered body; a longitudinally movable rotatable spindle having its lower end sleeved upon the stub of the pivot pin and its upper end projeet-ing through the wall of the top; a knob fitted to the outer end of the spindle; a ratchet carried by the spindle; a partition wall secured to the body of the top having a central opening for the spindle and ratchet when the spindle is longitudinally shifted; a spring actuated dog pivoted to the partition wall adapted to engage said ratchet; a coiled spring sleeved upon the spindle and fixedly secured to the latter at oneend, the opposite end of the spring having a hook-shaped formation adapted to enter an aperture in the partition wall, whereby it may be automatically clutched theretowhen the spring is manually wound or released respectively therefrom upon shifting the spindle longitudinally to disengage the ratchet from engagement with the spring actuated dog to enable the spring to rotate the body of the top and be antomatically released therefrom.

In a spinning top; a chambered body; a pivot pin projecting through the lower wall of the top having a short upstanding stub portion extending into the chambered body; a longitudinally movable rotatable spindle sleeved upon the stub of the pivot )in and provided with an outstanding flange integral with the spindle, said spindle extending through the upper wall of the top; a knob fitted to the outer end of the spindle; a partition wall having a central opening for the passage of the spindle with notches around its outer perimeter to receive lugs struck from the wall of the body and bent to enter said notches, whereby the partition is held in position, and against rotation; a coiled wire driving spring sleeved upon the spindle having one end permanently engaged to the flange of the spindle, the opposite end of the spring having a hook adapted to enter a covered aperature formed in the partition wall to receive it, whereby the spring may be automatically clutched to, or released from said partition wall; ratchet teeth integral with the spindle; and: a spring actuated dog. pivoted to the partition wall, adapted to engage said ratchet teeth and to be released from engagement therewith upon manuall shifting the spindle longitudinally.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifieation.

JOHN J. ESPER. 

